Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Raja.
A man affected by schizoaffective disorder and alcohol abuse presented priapism after eleven years of clozapine treatment. After surgical intervention and resolution of priapism, he continued clozapine treatment at the same dose without problems. Clozapine withdrawal is not mandatory in patients who develop priapism in the course of treatment.
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Three cases of hydatidosis of bone with pathological fracture were treated by wide resection, custom mega prosthesis replacement, and chemotherapy. Two patients were females and one was male, with a mean age of 47 years (range, 38-55 years). Two of them had a pathological fracture of the proximal femur, and one had a pathological fracture of the distal femur. All patients were treated postoperatively with albendazole 400 mg, twice daily, for 12 weeks. During the mean follow-up period of 4.5 years, no recurrence of Echinococcal infection was noticed. The use of the custom mega prosthesis technique has not been reported elsewhere, and hydatid disease of the bone can now be considered an extended indication for custom mega prosthesis in addition to its application in surgery for tumours and massive trauma.
The growing use of atypical antipsychotics has led to a decrease of acute dystonic reactions (ADR). To evaluate the prevalence of ADR, we recorded all ADR occurring in a population of patients consecutively admitted to a psychiatric intensive care unit. Among 1337 cases treated with antipsychotics, we observed 41 cases (3.1%) affected by ADR. At discharge, mean chlorpromazine-equivalent daily dose was 465.8 (+/-421.5) mg, while 39 cases (3.0%), all treated with typical neuroleptics, received anticholinergics. During hospitalization, 15 cases received quetiapine, 19 sertindole, 95 olanzapine, 142 clozapine, 495 risperidone and 561 typical neuroleptics. Four ADR occurred among the cases treated with risperidone monotherapy, and 4 occurred in risperidone-treated patients after emergency parenteral treatment with typical neuroleptics. In these last 4 cases, temporal relationship suggested that typical neuroleptics had caused ADR. One ADR occurred in a patient treated with olanzapine and 1 ADR in a patient treated with quetiapine. Among cases assuming typical neuroleptics, 32 ADR occurred. The difference between typical and atypical neuroleptics is highly significant (chi2 = 27.756; d.f. = 1; p = 0.000). Atypical antipsychotics carry a minimal risk of ADR.
The paper describes a case of neurocutaneous melanosis (NM), with mental retardation, chronic psychosis, and epilepsy possibly due to a temporal focus. This is the first report of NM associated with a severe and chronic psychosis. It is likely that such an association has not previously been described because of the ominous prognosis of most cases of NM with early involvement of the central nervous system.
Efficacy and safety of nimesulide as well as favourable tolerability have been tested in osteoarthritis in short term study and post-marketing survey. Here is a report which shows the superiority of nimesulide complexed with betacyclodextrin vs ninesulide tablet in osteoarthritis in a long term study.
BACKGROUND: In germ-cell tumours (GCT), there is continuing controversy over the relative merits of dose dense therapy (increased frequency over a given time) versus vertical intensification (increased dose per fraction). The value of using a cisplatin-based dose dense approach in the salvage setting has not been documented and in addition the role of methotrexate remains uncertain. This paper reviews results from our investigations of these issues. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1987 and 1996, 65 patients with relapsing or refractory germ-cell tumour received weekly m-BOP (methotrexate, bleomycin, vincristine and cisplatin) as salvage therapy. Residual masses were excised if possible and patients progressing after this received cisplatin and ifosfamide based chemotheraphy with or without high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) consolidation. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 33 months, 34% are progression free following m-BOP, 11% who had surgery for residual masses which showed viable cancers are progression free. A further 15% who progressed following m-BOP with or without surgery were rendered progression free by third-line therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of m-BOP as second line therapy with deferment of cisplatin and ifosfamide based treatment to third line therapy with consolidation of third line responses with HDCT, leads to an overall progression-free survival of 60%. It does not appear that M-BOP prejudiced the response to third line therapy suggesting a lack of cross resistance. The potentially lower risk of leukaemia and infertility from m-BOP requires further evaluation.
The medical records and histopathology of all ovarian germ cell tumours (OGCT) in a tertiary centre between 1980 and 1996 were reviewed. Response, overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and prognostic factors were analysed. Sixty-seven patients with OGCT were identified and treated, including 33 dysgerminomas, 18 immature teratomas, 10 endodermal sinus tumours, and 6 mixed tumours. Fifty-three patients (79%) received conservative surgery, 24 (36%) had residual disease post-primary surgery, and 43 (64%) had chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 62 patients (93%), 4 out of 5 patients who relapsed were successfully salvaged; OS and RFS at 5 years were 89% and 76%, respectively. Advancing stage of disease was the only significant adverse prognostic factor (p = 0.0001 for OS, and 0.0003 for RFS at 5 years). Out of 44 women with the potential to conceive following treatment, there were 16 successful pregnancies. None of the children born subsequent to the chemotherapy were reported to have any congenital abnormalities. The review indicates a high cure rate in OGCT with combined surgery and chemotherapy and that conservative surgery and preservation of fertility are feasible.
The absence of ejaculation in two patients treated with risperidone is described. This side-effect has rarely been reported. The mechanism responsible for ejaculation dysfunction in risperidone treated patients is unclear, but might be due to the alpha1-adrenergic antagonist action of the drug.
The paper describes a patient with Asperger disorder, Neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI) and Primary Empty Sella (ES). His response to vasopressin treatment suggested a concomitant presence of primary polydipsia. This is the first reported case of an autistic spectrum disorder associated with NDI or ES. The implications of the observed co-occurrence of these relatively rare disorders are discussed in relation to diagnosis and pathogenesis.
Antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal adverse effects continue to be a serious problem in the treatment of psychotic disorders. While the pathophysiology of these adverse effects is not well understood, much recent research has focused on improving our ability to use available pharmacotherapy in the most effective and least toxic manner. Acute dystonic reactions only occur within the first days of antipsychotic treatment. They are often distressing and frightening for the patient and may even be dangerous. However, they can be effectively prevented or reversed with anticholinergics. Furthermore, the growing use of the new atypical antipsychotics will lead to a significant decrease in the rate of acute dystonic reactions. In contrast, tardive dystonia is a long-lasting menace in the course of antipsychotic treatment, for which there is no established therapy. Tardive dystonia is sometimes disabling or disfiguring and, like other tardive disorders, is potentially irreversible. Because, in most cases, patients need to continue taking the antipsychotic that has caused the adverse effect to prevent relapse of the mental illness, preventive measures are crucial. Antipsychotics should be prescribed only for patients affected by psychotic disorders, when definitely indicated and at the lowest effective dosage. The use of clozapine and other novel antipsychotic agents is also likely to represent an important step in the prevention and treatment of tardive dystonia. Compared with traditional antipsychotics, most of the new antipsychotics are characterised by a low acute extrapyramidal adverse effects liability and they also bring the hope of reducing the risk of tardive disorders. If tardive dystonia has occurred, switching to clozapine or another atypical antipsychotic and treatment with tetrabenazine, reserpine and botulinum toxin are possible options.
The aim of this observational study was to assess the rates of aggressive and violent behavior in patients admitted to an Italian emergency psychiatric unit and to explore possible risk factors for patient violence. In a population of 313 consecutive patients, we considered aggressive or violent behavior, rated according to a hierarchy from no aggressive behavior to serious physical violence. The results confirm that young age, psychotic symptoms, excitement, akathisia, and diagnosis of personality disorder are risk factors for violent behavior. The unique and major finding of the study is the low prevalence of aggressive and violent acts in this sample of patients, possibly related to their cultural background and to the system of psychiatric care. These data provide supportive evidence for the importance of sociocultural factors in the behavior of psychiatric patients and suggest the need to explore new strategies of prevention and treatment of patient aggression and violence. A non-restraint policy could be a critical factor in reducing violence among psychiatric inpatients.
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In order to replicate the results of our previous study of tardive dystonia (TDt) and to enlarge the studied sample, we examined 154 consecutive psychiatric in-patients who had been exposed to neuroleptic drugs for a cumulative period of at least three months. The present study provides further data supporting a distinction between TDt and tardive dyskinesia (TDk). The patients with TDt tend to be younger, male, less exposed to neuroleptic drugs, and to have a more severe movement disorder. TDt appears to be the most frequent form of secondary dystonia, and there is evidence that its prevalence has so far been underestimated.
Three patients who presented with grand mal seizures and an associated behavioral disorder were recognized as suffering from a severe butalbital withdrawal syndrome. All were migraineurs who had become dependent on barbiturates. We propose that the occurrence of seizures, psychotic behavior, or a recent personality change should be considered clues to possible barbiturate abuse in patients with migraine.
The causes and the pathogenesis of tardive dyskinesia are not well understood. There is no therapy currently available that has been shown to alter the overall course. However, it is possible to influence the development or the progression of this disorder. A decision tree of feasible therapeutic choices is presented here, to prevent or treat tardive dyskinesia in patients who need long term neuroleptic therapy.
In a population of 200 consecutive inpatients with a history of at least 3 months' total cumulative neuroleptic exposure, the prevalence of tardive dystonia (TDt) was 4%, higher than previously reported. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (TDk) was 22%. Patients with TDt did not differ in demographic or clinical variables from nondyskinetic patients. In comparison with patients with TDk, patients with TDt were significantly younger, had a more severe movement disorder, and had received neuroleptics for the first time fewer years before. Patients with TDk were significantly older than patients without tardive disorders, both when they were examined and when they had started their first neuroleptic treatment. Furthermore, they had started their first neuroleptic treatment more years before. These results support the distinction between TDt and TDk, and suggest that the previously reported prevalence of TDt might have been underestimated.
The study highlights the high prevalence of neurological diagnoses in a population of psychiatric in-patients admitted to 16 private clinics and 6 private institutes because of their mental and behavioral disorders. Neurological diseases affected 13.05% of acute and 68.09% of chronic psychiatric patients. These results emphasize the need for specific neurological competence in the treatment of many psychiatric patients and better integration between neurological and psychiatric departments. The close relationship between neurology and psychiatry, as well as the renaissance of neuropsychiatry are discussed.